Fix 3: Don’t give extra credit or use “bonus points”; seek only evidence that more work has resulted in a higher level of achievement.

Well this post should be a breeze; I’m almost second guessing this whole project. Does anyone give bonus marks out there? To me assessment serves three purposes. Firstly, it informes the learner what they need to focus on, and where they still need to focus (based on clear learning goals). Secondly, at the end of the day, assessment tells the learner how much the student actually understood of a course or component of a course. Lastly, everyone’s favorite, assessment is a reporting tool. Bonus points in any of these functions of assessment would just skew it from its intent, and mislead shareholder(s). Deliberate practice and problem solving lead to learning; it doesn’t matter if you are trying to work on your open chords for the upcoming campfire season with your acoustic guitar, or trying to memorize the five agents of evolution. Work your brain and you will learn; there are no bonus marks.